Chapter 56: Chapter 56: The Parasites of Humanity
They passed by an emergency infirmary where healers and medics worked tirelessly to tend to the wounded and sick. The tent was large, with rows of cots occupied by people in various states of distress. Some groaned in pain, while others lay motionless, their eyes closed as they fought off fever or exhaustion.
Iris glanced at the infirmary, her expression filled with concern. "There are so many people in need of treatment," she murmured. "It's heartbreaking to see them like this."
"You can help them later on, Iris. Right now, you need to get your family settled in, and then we can focus on everything else," Ethan said calming her nerves. He understood her mentality a little.
Sir Gerald led them to a quieter section of the camp, with fewer tents and a bit more space. The area was near the edge of the camp, where the forest began to encroach on the makeshift settlement. It was still within the camp's perimeter, but the trees offered a sense of seclusion and calm.
"This should suit your needs, young man," Sir Gerald said, pointing to an empty tent. "It's not much, but it's safe, and you'll have some privacy here."
Ethan nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, Sir Gerald. This is perfect."
The knight inclined his head. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. The officials are making rounds to distribute food and supplies, so someone will be by shortly."
With that, Sir Gerald turned and left.
After settling them inside, Ethan turned to leave, but Iris called out from behind.
Ethan looked at her curiously, wondering what he might have missed.
"Ethan, I told you about my boyfriend, right? I didn't see him anywhere. Can you find him if possible?" Iris asked hesitantly.
Ethan sighed. "Alright. What's his name again?"
"His name is Allen. He's a bit tanned and also a commoner like me. I'm worried about him. You're going to the central area, right? If you recognize anyone by that name there, please tell him to come here. I'll try my best to find him here."
Although it was uncertain if her boyfriend was alive or not, she forced herself to remain positive.
Ethan nodded in understanding. He cast a sympathetic glance at Iris, assuming she was holding onto a fragile hope.
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Ethan sprinted through the devastated streets, his heart pounding with fear and urgency as he headed toward Innkeeper Greta's inn. He prayed inwardly, hoping against hope that they were safe. As he passed through the remnants of the hunter's resource market, he could barely recognize the once-bustling area.
Buildings lay in ruins, reduced to charred stone and splintered wood. The aftermath of the beast rampage was catastrophic—a clear reminder of the destruction brought by the rampaging beasts.
The atmosphere was filled with despair. The familiar faces of shop owners and vendors, once lively and welcoming, were now twisted with grief. They stood amid the wreckage, crying over their shattered livelihoods, their faces etched with the hopelessness of the dark days ahead. Their eyes held a vacant, hollow look, as if their very souls had been crushed beneath the weight of the catastrophe.
When Ethan finally reached the site of the inn, his worst fears were realized. The small, cozy inn that had once been a sanctuary for weary travelers was now nothing more than a pile of splintered wood and scattered debris.
"Was he late already?"
The warm glow of the hearth, the comforting smell of freshly baked bread, the friendly chatter—all of it was gone. The inn had been utterly obliterated, reduced to a heap of rubble that seemed to mock the hope he had clung to.
Frantically, Ethan scanned the surroundings, his eyes darting from one pile of debris to the next. His heart raced as he searched for any sign of Emily and her mother. Each second felt like an eternity, the fear gnawing at him with relentless intensity. He tried to push away the terrifying thought that they might have been buried beneath the ruins, but it loomed over him like a dark shadow.
And then, finally, he saw them. At a distance, from the devastation, Emily and her mother were huddled together. But something was terribly wrong. Even from afar, Ethan could sense the danger they were in. His heart sank as he took in the scene. A group of menacing figures surrounding them, their intentions clear from the lecherous grins plastered on their faces.
A Few Minutes Earlier…
"Please, Let go of my mother!" Emily's voice was hoarse from screaming, but she continued to struggle, trying desperately to free her mother from the clutches of a man with a stone-like grip on her arm.
Emily, though young and fragile, fought with every ounce of strength she had. But against the large, muscular thugs, her efforts were futile. Her small hands slapped at the man's arm, but it was like striking a stone wall. Tears streamed down her face, her voice breaking with despair as she pleaded for her mother's release.
Surrounding them were a group of hooligans, their faces twisted with sadistic glee as they watched the girl's futile struggle. They were scums, reveling in the fear and helplessness of the innocent people, even in these tough times.
"Haha, let go of such a juicy meat? We're definitely going to enjoy her tonight," the leader of the group jeered, his voice dripping with lewdness. His eyes roamed over Innkeeper Greta's unconscious body, lingering on her voluptuous figure. She lay motionless, blood pooling beneath her where her right arm had been severed at the shoulder, the wound still fresh and seeping.
The man's underlings chuckled darkly, their eyes glinting with perverse anticipation as they envisioned the night's horrific plans in bed. The stench of alcohol and sweat clung to them, mixing with the iron scent of blood in the air.
"Yes, boss. Let's move quickly. If other city officials see us, we'll be in big trouble. Even bribes might not save us then," one of the underlings warned cautiously, glancing around nervously.
"Hmph, let them come. I'm not afraid of them," the leader spat, arrogance seeping from every cell. "First, get this stupid child out of my sight. Kill her or whatever, just get it done."
"Okay, Boss!"
The thugs grinned wickedly, one of them stepping forward and grabbing Emily by her hair. He yanked her up roughly, lifting her small body off the ground as she screamed in agony.
"Ahh…!" Emily's cry was a piercing wail of pain, the sensation of her hair being torn from her scalp was unbearable.
"Let go…" Her voice was strained, her throat raw from screaming. But her words were cut off as another thug wrapped his hand around her throat, squeezing tightly. Her breath hitched, her vision blurring as the pressure increased. She clawed at his hand, her small fingers struggling to pry it away, but her strength was fading fast.
As the world around her began to dim, Emily's thoughts drifted to the one person she had always believed would protect her—Ethan. "Big brother, where are you?
Ethan's timing could not have been more critical. The moment he arrived at the scene, his heart turned to ice. He saw Emily dangling helplessly, her life hanging by a thread as the thug's grip tightened around her throat.
His blood boiled with rage as he witnessed the depths of cruelty these so-called humans could sink to. They were worse than demons, the parasites of humanity.